## United States Court of App eals

F O R T H E E I G H T H C I R C U I T

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No. 1 1- 23 65

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Uni te d S ta te s o f Am eri ca, *

* App el le e, *

* App eal fro m

th e Uni te d S ta te s

v. * Dis tri ct Co ur t fo r th e

* Nor th ern Dis tri ct of I owa

. Asa W in te rs , *

* [UNPUBLISHED] App el la nt

. *

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Su bm it te d: Feb ru ary 13 , 20 12
Fi le d: Ju ly 12, 2 01 2

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Befo re WOL LMAN, ARNOLD, and SMITH, Ci rcu it Ju dg es

.

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PER CURI AM.

Asa W in te rs pl ead ed gu il ty to o n e c o u n t of be in g an un la wfu l dr ug us er in

po ss es si on of a fir earm , in vi ol at io n of 18 U.S.C. §§ 92 2( g) (3 ) an d 92 4( a ) ( 2 )

. Th e
di st ric t cou rt se nt en ced W in te rs to 12 0 m on th s' im pr is on m en t to ru n con se cu ti ve ly 1

to hi s st at e ba nk ro bb ery se nt en ce an d im po se d th ree y ears ' su pe rv is ed rel eas e up on

co m pl et io n of hi s se nt en ce. W in te rs ap pe al s hi s se nt en ce as un reas on ab le

. W e affi rm

.

The Hon or ab le Lin da R. Rea de

, Ch ie f Ju dg e, Uni te d St at es Dis tri ct Co ur t fo r 1

th e Nor th ern Dis tri ct of I owa

.I. Bac kg ro un d

On Decem

be r 31

, 20 09

, po li ce were di sp at ch ed to Ci ty Liq uo r an d Tob acco in

W at erl oo , Iowa , aft er t he y rece iv ed a rep or t t ha t a p ers on in si de th e st or e m ay ha ve
be en in vo lv ed in a Decem be r 23

, 20 09 ro bb ery of th e s t o r e

. W he n th ey arri ve d,

of f i c e r s f o u n d a ve hi cl e pa rk ed in fro nt of th e st or e wit h th e pa ss en ge r-s id e do or s
faci n g t he st or e. Acco rd in g to th e pr es en te nc e in ve st ig at io n rep or t (PSR ), Baro n

Bo ok er was "s it ti ng on th e dr iv er's si de rear pa ss en ge r se at of th e v e h i c l e , " an d
Najuan Decat ur an d W in te rs were w a l k i n g to ward th e ve hi cl e. W he n an of fic er

ap pr oa ch ed W in te rs , he "b eg an to walk away an d co m pl ai ne d th at th e of

fic er was

ha ras si ng hi m ." Dur in g a pa t-d own se arch of W in te rs , "[t ]he of fic er lo cat ed a lo ad ed

Hi-P oi nt Mo de l C9 9m m ha nd gu n wit h an ob li te rat ed se ria l nu mb er an d a us er

qu an ti ty of m ari

juan a." Po li ce fo u n d " a H i-P oi nt .38 0 cal ib er ha nd gu n wit h an
ob l i t e r a t e d se ria l nu m

be r on th e flo or bo ard ne ar th e fro nt pa ss en ge r se at of th e

ve hi cl e," as well as "b la ck pa nt s, two kn it st oc k i n g h a t s , a bl ack pa rti al face m as k,

an d b lu e la te x g lo ve s i n t he rear carg o a rea o f th e v eh ic le ."

D u r i ng an in te rv ie w wit h po li ce, W in te rs "ad m it te d to of fic ers th at th e

m ari juan a fo un d on hi s pe rs on was hi s an d th at he was a m ari juan a sm ok er." W in te rs

to ld po li ce th at he fo un d th e 9m m ha nd gu n in th e gl ov e bo x of th e ve hi cl e whi le he

, Decat ur , an d Bo ok er were on th ei r way to th e st or e to bu y li qu or an d th at Bo ok er sa id

th at th e gu n was to "s ho ot up in th e ai r be cau se it was New Year's Eve ." (Qu ot at io ns

om it te d.) Win te rs ad m it te d t ha t h e h ad carr ie d t he gu n i nt o t he li qu or st or e.

A gr an d jury in di ct ed W in te rs on on e co un t of be in g an un la wfu l dr ug us er in

po ss es si on of a fir earm , in vi ol at io n of 18 U.S.C. §§ 92 2( g) (3 ) an d 92 4( a)(2 ). W in te rs pl ead ed gu il ty be fo re a m ag is tra te jud ge , a nd th e di st ric t co ur t acce pt ed hi s gu il ty pl ea. Pri or to se nt en ci ng , th e Uni te d Stat es Pro ba ti on Offi ce pr ep ared a PSR, whi ch

cal cu la te d W in te rs 's ba se of fen se le ve l at 14

, ad de d a fo ur -leve l enha nc em en t be cau se

th e fir earm ha d an al te red or ob li te rat e d s eri al nu m be r, an d red uc ed th e of

fen se by

th ree le ve ls fo r acce pt an ce of res po ns ib il it y , res ul ti ng in a to ta l offe ns e le ve l of 15

.

-2

-The PSR al so as si gn ed W in te rs th ree cri m in al hi st or y po in ts fo r a fir st -d eg ree

ro bb ery co nv ic ti on in st at e co ur t fo r ro bb in g Ci ty Liq uo r an d Tob acco on Decem be r

23

, 20 09

, wit h Deca tu r an d Bo ok er, res ul ti ng in a cri m in al hi st or y cat eg or y of II.

St at e tri al reco rd s al le ge d th at du rin g th e ro bb ery, W in te rs " p oi nt ed [a] ha nd gu n at

a st or e cl erk an d t ol d th e cl erk to op en th e cas h reg is te r. [Wint ers ] an d Boo ke r to ok

th e m on ey an d al l th ree ran ou t of th e st or e. The y la te r sp li t th e m on ey ." The PSR al so

n o te d th at th ree ch arg es were st il l pe nd in g ag ai ns t W in te rs , on e of whi ch was f o r

ro bb in g th e East Fo ur th St r e e t Li q u o r St or e in W at erl oo , Io wa, on Decem be r 29

, 20 09

. Acco rd in g to th e PSR, du rin g th at ro bb ery, "Bo ok er (wh il e br an di sh in g a

ha nd gu n an d weari ng a pa rti al face m as k an d bl ue la te x gl ov es )

. . . en te red th e li qu or

st or e," "co nf

ro nt ed a st or e cl erk ne ar th e cas h reg is te r," an d "s ho t th e cl erk ." W in te rs

" w h il e br an di sh in g a lo ng gu n an d weari ng da rk cl ot hi ng ," al so "en te red th e li qu or

st or e" a n d " p o i n t ed th e sh ot gu n at an ot he r cl erk

, co ck ed th e sh ot gu n, an d to ld th e
cl erk to rem ai n ly in g face do wn on th e flo or du rin g th e ro bb ery. " The PSR rep or te d

th at "Bo ok er an d Decat ur la te r ad m it te d to th ei r in vo lv em en t an d to [Wint ers 's]

in vo lv em en t in th e ro bb ery. " Acco rd in g to th e PSR, th e ad vi so ry Gui de li ne s ran ge fo r

W in te rs 's s en te nc e was 21 to 27 m on th s' i m pr is on m en t.

The go ve r n men t m ad e a nu m be r of ob

jecti on s to th e PSR. Fi rs t, th e

go ve rn m en t arg ue d th at an of fen se le ve l of 25 in st ead of 15 was ap pr op ria te pu rs ua nt

to U.S.S.G. § 2K2 .1(c )(1 )(A). The go ve rn m en t in di cat ed th at po li ce in te rd ic te d th e

ro bb ery co ns pi racy be twee n W in te rs , Bo ok er, an d Decat ur jus t be fo re th e se co nd

at te m pt to ro b Ci ty Liq uo r an d To b a c co on Decem be r 31

, 20 09

, an d th at W in te rs 's

ha nd gu n co ul d h a v e h e l p ed th em co m m it th at ro bb ery. In th e al te rn at iv e, th e

go ve rn m en t arg ue d th at a fo ur -le ve l in crea se to th e of fen se le ve l wou ld be

ap pr op ria te un de r U.S.S.G. § 2K2 .1(b )(6 ) be cau se W in te rs u s e d or po ss es se d a

fir earm du rin g t he Decem

be r 29 , 20 09 rob be ry

. Seco nd

, th e go ve rn m en t co nt en de d

th at th e di st ric t co ur t sh ou ld no t red u c e Wi n t e r s 's of fen se le ve l fo r acce pt an ce of

res po ns ib il it y be cau se he de ni ed in vo lv em en t in th e Decem be r 23

, 20 09 ro bb ery an d

-3

-th e al le ge d at te m pt ed ro bb ery on Decem

be r 31

, 20 09

. Fi na ll y , th e go ve rn m en t so ug ht

an up ward de pa rtu re or va ria nc e fro m th e Gui de li ne s ran ge " b a s e d u p o n un -s co red

cri m in al hi st or y , fact or s n ot tak en in to acco un t b y th e [G]uid el in es , and th e n eed to

im po se a se nt en ce th at ta ke s in to co ns id erat io n th e fact or s se t o u t i n 1 8 U.S.C.
§ 3 55 3."

At se nt en ci ng , th e go ve rn m en t ag ai n rai se d it s ob jecti on s to th e PSR an d st at ed

th at

, "d ep en di ng up on th e Co ur t's ru li ng on th os e ad jus tm e n t s , w e li ke ly ha ve a

m ot io n fo r up ward d e pa rtu re or va ria nc e as well ba se d up on un sc or ed cri m in al

hi st or y an d th e [§ ] 35 53 (a) fact or s." The go ve rn m en t al so arg ue d th at W in te rs sh ou ld

se rv e hi s fed eral s e n t en ce co ns ecu ti ve to th e st at e se nt en ce he was se rv in g fo r

ro bb ery. W in te rs 's co un se l res po n d e d t h a t "t he pr ob at io n of fic e di d a go od job of

sc or in g th is an d th at th e ev id en ce is jus t no t cl ear, no r can it be fo un d wit h reas on ab le

cert ai n t y th at al l th es e cri m es were co nn ect ed an d th at Mr. W in te rs sh ou ld be he ld

acco un ta bl e fo r al l th e r e l e va nt co nd uc t." W in te rs 's co un se l al so as ke d th at th e

se nt en ce im

po se d by th e di st ric t cou rt run co nc ur ren t to th e st at e-co ur t se nt en ce fo r

ro bb ery.

Afte r a br ie f rece ss , th e di st ric t co ur t de te rm in ed by a pr ep on de ran ce of th e

ev id en ce th at W in te rs was in vo lv ed in th e Decem be r 23 an d D e c e mb er 29

, 20 09

ro bb eri es . The di st ric t co ur t al so fo un d "t ho se ro bb eri es [to be ] rel ev an t co nd uc t t o

th e ch arg ed of

fen se to whi ch [Wint ers ] pl ed gu il ty." The co ur t de te rm in ed th at

W in te rs 's of

fen se le ve l was 25 be cau se W in te rs was "as si st in g in cas in g th e [s to re]"

on Dece mb e r 3 1

, 20 09

. The co ur t "d [id ] no t sc or e acce pt an ce of res po ns ib il it y
be cau se

. . . [Wint ers ] ha [d ] no t acce pt ed fu ll y hi s r e s p o n s i bi li ty fo r rel ev an t

c o n du ct ." The co ur t ad

jus te d W in te rs 's cri m in al hi st or y , affo rd in g hi m "n o po i n t s

. . . fo r th e ro bb ery be cau se it 's rel ev an t co nd uc t to th e ch arg ed of fen se ." Thi s res ul te d

in a cr i mina l hi st or y cat eg or y of I an d an ad vi so ry Gui de li ne s ran ge of 57 to 71

m on th s' im

pr is o nm en t. Alt ho ug h th e di st ric t co ur t fo un d th at U.S.S.G. § 5G1 .3

"re qu ire [d ] th e Co ur t to ru n t h e se nt en ce co nc ur ren t to th e un di sc ha rg ed te rm of

-4

-im

pr is on m en t," th e co ur t de ci de d to "v ary up ward " "t o refl ect th e se rio us ne ss of th e

offen se , pr om ot e res pe ct fo r th e la w, pr ov id e jus t pu ni sh m en t, [an d] pr ot ect th e pu bl ic

fro m fu rth er c r i mes of th e de fen da nt ." The di st ric t co ur t se nt en ced W in te rs to 12 0

m ont hs' im pr iso nm en t, th e st at ut or y m ax im um , "t o ru n co ns ecu ti ve ly to th e rem ai nde r

of th e un di sc ha rg ed te rm of im pr is on m en t im

po se d" in st at e co ur t, fo ll owe d by th ree

y ears ' su pe rv is ed rel eas e.

II. Dis cu ss io n

On ap pe al

, W in t e r s arg ue s th at th e di st ric t co ur t ab us ed it s di sc ret io n by

im po si ng a se n t en ce of 12 0 m on th s' im pr is on m en t to ru n co ns ecu ti ve ly to hi s st at e

se nt en ce. To de te rm in e whe th er th e di st ric t co ur t ab us ed it s di sc ret io n, "'[w]e mu s t

fir st en su re th at th e di st ric t co ur t co m m it te d no si gn ifi can t pr oc ed ur al erro r,'" su ch as

"'fa il in g to cal cu la te (o r im pr op erl y cal cu la ti n g ) th e Gui de li ne s ran ge , tre at in g th e
Gui de li ne s as m an da to ry , fai li ng to co ns id er th e § 35 53 (a ) f act or s, se le ct in g a

se nt en ce ba se d on cl earl y erro ne ou s fact s, or fai li ng to ad eq ua te ly ex pl ai n th e ch os en

se nt en ce— in cl ud in g an ex pl an at io n fo r an y de vi at io n fro m th e Gui de li ne s ran ge .'"

Uni te d St at es v. Feems te r , 57 2 F.3 d 45 5, 46 1 (8 th Ci r. 20 09 ) (en ba nc ) (q uo ti ng Gal l

v. Uni te d St at es , 55 2 U.S. 38

, 51 ( 2 0 0 7 ) )

. I f we de te rm in e th at th e di st ric t co ur t

co m m it te d no p r o c e d ur al erro r, th en we co ns id er th e su bs ta nt iv e reas on ab le ne ss of

t he se nt en ce im

po se d, "'t ak [in g] in to acco un t th e to ta li ty of th e ci rcu m st an ces , in cl ud in g t he ex te nt of an y va ria nc e fro m th e Gui de li ne s ra ng e.'" Id

. (q uo ti ng Gal l

, 55 2 U.S. at 51 ).

A. Se nt en ci ng Pro ced ur e

W in te rs al le g e s t h a t th e di st ric t co ur t co m m it te d pr oc ed ur al erro r by (1 )

im po si ng a te rm of im

pr is on m en t to ru n co ns ecu ti ve ly to hi s st at e co ur t se nt en ce an d
(2 ) fai li ng to ad eq ua te ly exp la in it s b as es for a su bs ta nt ia l u pwa rd va ria nc e.

-5

-1. Co ns ecu ti ve S en te nc es

Fi rs t, W in te rs arg ue s th at th e di st ric t co ur t ab us ed it s di sc ret io n by i m po si ng

a se nt en ce to ru n co ns ecu ti ve ly to h i s s t a te se nt en ce fo r ro bb ery be cau se th e
Gui de li ne s in st ru ct th e di st ric t co ur t to im po se th e se nt en ce to ru n co nc ur ren tl y to hi s

st at e se nt en ce. Wint ers cit es to U.S.S.G. § 5 G1.3 (b ), whi ch st at es :

[if ] a te rm of im

pr is on m en t res ul te d fro m an ot he r of fen se th at is rel ev an t

c o n du ct to th e in st an t of

fen se of co nv ic ti on

. . . an d th at was th e ba si s fo r an in crea se in th e of fen se l e v e l f

or th e in st an t of

fen se

. . . , th e

se nt en ce fo r th e in st an t o ffen se sh al l b e im po se d a s fo ll ows :

(1 ) th e co ur t sh al l ad

jus t th e se nt en ce fo r an y pe rio d of
im pr is on m en t al rea dy se rv ed on th e un di sc ha rg ed te rm of
im pr is on m en t . . . ; an d

(2 ) th e se nt en ce fo r th e in st an t of fen se sh al l be i mp o s ed to ru n

co nc ur ren tl y to th e rem ai nd er o f t he un di sc ha rg ed te rm of
im pr is on m en t.

W in te r po in te d ou t th at "'§ 5G1 .3 op erat es to m it ig at e th e po ss ib il it y th at th e fo rtu it y
of two se pa rat e pr os ecu ti on s wil l gr os sl y in crea se a de fen da nt 's se nt en ce.'" Uni te d

St at es v. Hea rd

, 35 9 F.3 d 54 4, 55 0 (D.C. Ci r. 20 04 ) (q uo ti ng W it te v. Uni te d St at es , 51 5 U.S. 3 89 , 40 5 (1 99 5) ).

As the go ve rn m en t no te s in it s bri ef, howe ve r, "t he se nt en ci ng gu id el in es are

no lo ng er a m an da to ry reg im e." Uni te d St at es v. Sh af er , 43 8 F.3 d 12 25

, 12 27 (8 th

Ci r. 20 06 ). He re , the dis tr ic t co ur t co rrec tl y cal cu la te d W in te rs 's Gui de li ne s ran ge an d

no te d th at § 5G1 .3(b ) ap pl ie d

. B u t th e di st ric t co ur t ex pl ai ne d th at , a fte r rev ie win g

th e § 35 53 (a) fact or s, it ha d de ci de d to di sr eg ard § 5G1 .3 an d va ry up ward

. In

im po si ng it s se nt en ce, "[t ]he c ou rt th us di d no t fai l to co ns id er § 5G1 .3(b )[] in it s

gu id el in es cal cu la ti on s or in fas hi on in g it s ul ti m at e se nt en ce; it si m pl y de te rm in ed

th at

, i n l ig ht of al l of th e § 35 53 (a) fact or s, a va ria nc e fro m th e gu id el in es was

-6

-ap pr op ria te ." Uni te d St at es v. Ca rt er , 65 2 F.3 d 89 4, 89 7 (8 th Ci r. 20 11 ). Bec au se th e

di st ric t co ur t pr op erl y co ns id ered t h e Gui de li ne s, it di d no t ab us e it s di sc ret io n in

im po si ng co ns ecu ti ve se nt en ces

. Uni te d St at es v. Fig ht

, 62 5 F.3 d 52 3, 52 5 (8 th Ci r.

20 10 ) ("Ev en if t he gu id el in es do no t re co m m en d th at se nt en ces run co ns ecu ti ve ly,

th e di st ric t co ur t ha s br o a d s ta tu to ry au th or it y , pu rs ua nt to 18 U.S.C. § 35 84

, to

im po se co ns ecu ti ve ter m s." ).

2. Exp la na ti on of

Upwa rd Var ia nc e

Seco nd

, W in te rs al le ge s th at th e di st ric t cou rt abu se d it s di sc ret io n by fai li ng

to ex pl ai n it s ba se s fo r th e up ward va ria nc e. "Th e ap pr op ria te ne ss of a di st ric t co ur t's

se nt en ci ng ex pl an at io ns 'de pe nd s up on ci rcu m st an ces .'" Uni te d S ta te s v. Th un de r , 55 3 F.3 d 60 5, 60 8 (8 th Ci r. 20 09 ) (q uo ti ng Rit a v. Uni te d St at es , 55 1 U.S. 33 8, 35 6
(2 00 7) ). The di st ric t co ur t is no t req ui red "t o m ech an ic al ly li st ev ery § 35 53 (a)

co ns id erat io n whe n se nt en ci ng a de fen da nt ." Id

. (q uo ta ti on an d ci ta ti on om it te d)

. "In st ead

, ev id en ce th at th e di st ric t co ur t was aware of th e rel ev an t § 35 53 (a) fact or s

req ui red to be co ns id ered is su ffi ci en t, an d th is ev id en c e c a n b e i n ferr ed fro m th e

reco rd ." Id

. (qu ot at io ns , alt erat io n, an d c it at io n o m it te d)

.

Here, th e di st ric t co ur t rece iv ed ei gh t po li ce r e p or ts at ta ch ed to th e

go ve rn m en t's se nt en ci ng m em or an du m , al l of whi ch pe rta in ed to th e Decem be r 23

an d Decem

be r 29

, 20 09 ro bb eri es an d th e al le ge d at te m pt ed ro bb ery on Decem

be r 31

, 20 09

. Sev eral of th e rep or ts de sc rib ed in te rv ie ws wit h Bo ok er an d Decat ur , who to ld

po li ce th at W in te rs was in vo lv ed in th e ro bb eri es on Decem be r 23 an d Decem

be r 29

, 20 09 , and bra nd is he d a gu n i n b ot h ro bb eri es . One re po rt d es cri be d a p ho to gr ap hi c

li ne up gi ve n to th e own er of Ci ty Liq uo r an d Tob acco , who id en ti fie d W in te rs as on e

of th e m en who ha d ro bb ed hi s st or e on Decem be r 23

, 20 09

. In ot he r rep or ts

, po li ce
de sc rib ed W in te rs ' s su sp ic io us be ha vi or at Ci ty Liq uo r an d Tob acco on Decem be r 31

, 20 09 , pri or to hi s ar res t.

-7

-Bas ed on th is ev id en ce, th e di st ric t co ur t de te rm in ed th at W in te rs ha d be en

in vo lv ed in two pr io r ro bb eri es , on e of whi ch in vo lv ed th e sh oo ti ng of a st or e cl erk

. The co ur t al so fo un d by a pr ep on de ran ce of th e ev id e n c e t h a t W in te rs an d hi s co

co ns pi rat or s were "ca si ng th e pl ace" f o r an ot he r ro bb ery o n th e da te of th ei r arre st

. In li gh t of th is ev id en ce, an d "af te r care fu ll y rev ie win g al l of th e st at ut or y fact or s at

18 [U.S.C. §] 35 53 (a)," th e di st ric t co ur t de te rm in ed th at a n u p w a rd va ria nc e was

warra nt ed . The co ur t ex pl ai ne d:

[ T]he ba si s of th e up ward de pa rtu re is th e ne ed fo r th e se nt en ce t o refl ect th e se rio us ne ss of th e of fen se , pr om ot e res pe ct fo r th e la w,
pr ov id e jus t pu ni sh m en t, [an d] pr ot ect th e pu bl ic fro m fu rth er cri m es of
th e de fe n da nt

. The se nt en ce I im po se wil l to ta ll y di sr eg ard [§ ] 5G1 .3

an d th e gu id el in e cal cu la ti on , an d I wil l b e g iv in g hi m th e m ax im um
st at ut or y pe na lt y of 1 20 m on th s.

In li gh t of th e ci rcu m st an ces of th is cas e, th is ex pl an at io n was ad eq ua te an d do es no t

co ns ti tu te an ab us e of di sc ret io n. Se e Uni te d St at es v. Rich ar t

, 66 2 F.3 d 10 37

, 10 51
(8 th Ci r. 20 11 ) (fi nd in g th e di st ric t co ur t's de ci si on to va ry up ward to th e st at ut or y

m ax im um an d ru n t he two se nt en ces co ns ecu ti ve to each ot he r was no t an ab us e of

di sc ret io n whe n "[t ]he di st ric t co ur t co rrec tl y cal cu la te d th e ad vi so ry gu id el in e ran ge ,
pr op erl y co ns id ered th e § 35 53 (a) fact or s, se le ct ed a

. . . s e n t e n ce ba se d on fact ua l

fin di ng s th at were no t cl earl y erro ne ou s, an d ad eq ua te ly ex pl ai ne d th e ch os en

se nt en ce" ).

B. Su bs ta nt iv e Rea so na bl en es s
Alt ho ug h no t ex pr es sl y , W in te rs arg ue s th at a te n- y ear se nt en ce fo r po ss es si on

of a fir earm to ru n co ns ecu ti ve to hi s st a t e s en te nc e is su bs ta nt iv el y un reas on ab le

. "[I ]t wil l be th e un us ua l cas e whe n we rev ers e a di st ric t co ur t se nt en ce— whe t he r
wit hi n, ab ov e, or be lo w th e ap pl ic ab le Gui de li ne s ran ge —as su bs ta nt iv el y

un reas on ab le ." Feems te r , 57 2 F .3d at 4 64

.

-8

-In th is cas e, th e co ur t was pr es en te d with ev id en ce tha t W in te rs , Bo ok er, and

D e c a t u r ha d go ne on a ro bb ery sp ree: wit hi n ei gh t da y s, th ey ha d co m m it te d tw o

arm ed ro bb eri es at t w o s e pa rat e li qu or st or es , ha d ret ur ne d to th e fir st li qu or st or e,

an d were "ca si ng th e pl ace" fo r a th ird ro bb ery at th e ti m e th ey were arre st ed

. Dur in g

on e of th e ro bb eri es , a st or e cl erk was sh ot

. In li gh t of th is ve ry da ng ero us co ns pi racy

in whi ch W in te rs was a co -co ns pi rat or , an d fo r w h i c h h e refu se d to acce pt

res po ns ib il it y , th e di st ric t co ur t fo un d it ne ces sa ry to ap pl y th e s t at ut or y m ax im um

se nt en ce fo r W in te rs 's il le ga l-we ap on po ss es si on of fen se

. Doi ng so was no t an ab us e

o f d is cret io n. Se e Uni te d St at es v. Neu zi l

, 40 5 F. App 'x 80

, 81 (8 th Ci r

. 2 0 1 0 )
(u np ub li sh ed pe r cu ria m ) (fi nd in g th at a di st ric t co ur t di d no t ab us e it s di sc ret io n by

se nt en ci ng th e de fen da nt to th e st at ut or y m ax im um of 12 0 m on th s' im

pr is on m en t fo r

po ss es si on of un reg is te red fir ea r ms whe n th e de fen da nt "re pe at ed ly th reat en ed hi s
wife an d he r fam il y ," ex hi bi te d a "fa sc in at io n wit h fir earm s," "h a[d ] a te nd en cy to us e

al co ho l t o e xc es s," an d " fai le d t o s ho w gen ui ne rem or se for hi s u nl awfu l ac ti on s" ).

III. Co nc lu si on

Acco rd in gl y , we affi rm

th e jud gm en t o f th e d is tri ct co ur t.

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